Daily Life: Grant names Naima Smith to complete Rose Fest Court

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 18, 2022

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Grant princess — Junior Naima Smith has been named Grant’s princess on the Rose Festival Court, completing the 15-person court.

About Naima: Wants to pursue a degree/career in business or law, or both; has enjoying being part of student leadership. … “More than anything else I love to bake treats for my family and friends.” Also likes to try new restaurants and food with sister and mom, and work out and read self-improvement books. … Likes to visit Portland Japanese Garden for its beauty and calm.

All 15 princesses will receive $3,500 scholarships provided by The Randall Group.

They’ll start their Rose Festival Court program in April, being assigned a mentor — a female executive recruited from the ranks of Unitus Community Credit Union.

They’ll then do a travel program that takes them to senior centers and to meet Gov. Kate Brown, and they’ll take part in the CareOregon Starlight Parade and Fred Meyer Junior Parade during Rose Festival.

The 2022 Queen of Rosaria will be named June 10 at Peninsula Park Rose Garden, and take part in the June 11 Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade.

The Rose Festival Court:

Junior Isabella Ellsworth, Metro East, Adrienne C. Nelson High School

Senior Jenny Duan, Metro West, Jesuit High School

Junior Reba Booze, Benson Polytechnic High School

Senior Megan Bathurst, Franklin High School

Junior Draia Shelton, Parkrose High School

Junior Bailey Armstrong, Lincoln High School

Junior Stella Jackson, Leodis V. McDaniel High School

Senior Rachelle Hanna, Central Catholic High School

Senior Paige Kehrli, St. Mary’s Academy

Senior Awek De Piok, David Douglas High School

Senior Maria Mizee, Roosevelt High School

Senior Jayilee Sloan, Jefferson High School

Junior Zinnia Sirokman, Cleveland High School

Senior Senya Scott, Ida B. Wells High School

Junior Naima Smith, Grant High School

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Wells princess — Senior Senya Scott has been named to the Rose Festival Court from Ida B. Wells High School.

Scott was part of the school’s name change to Ida B. Wells, serving on the name change committee. More about Scott: “I have always loved music. I am the lead soprano in the Ida B. Wells choir.” … Favorite place in Portland is Hawthorne neighborhood with its food, shops and views and “I get a nostalgic feeling every time I’m there.” … Was editor of magazine news show, “Hot Tea with Senya.”

Museum free day — Tickets are still available for the Portland Art Museum’s Miller Family Free Day, Sunday, March 20. Free admission will include access to “Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Mexican Modernism from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection” and more.

For more: http://www.portlandartmuseum.org.

‘Jeopardy!’ contestant — Karen Johnson, a member acquisition coordinator from Portland, will compete on “Jeopardy!,” 7 p.m. Monday, March 21.

Sunday Parkways — There’ll be two Sunday Parkways events in 2022 — Sunday, June 26 in Northeast Portland’s Cully and Concordia neighborhoods and Sunday, Aug. 21 in East Portland’s Hazelwood, Mill Park and Parklane neighborhoods.

Streets in the areas will be closed to car traffic, allowing for bicycling, walking, rolling and playing in the streets.

For even route maps and more, see http://www.portland.gov/sunday-parkways.

Reimagined Radio — The March episode pays tribute to Lucille Fletcher, perhaps the greatest woman writer of radio drama, in recognition of Women’s History Month. It’ll feature her two best-known works: “The Hitch-Hiker” and “Sorry, Wrong Number,” airing at 1 p.m. Monday, March 21 on KXRY 91.1 FM in Portland.

For more: http://www.reimaginedradio.net.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

McDaniel, Cleveland princesses — McDaniel High School has its Rose Festival Court princess, and it’s junior Stella Jackson.

Jackson wants to be an attorney or go into the sciences in her adult life. More about Stella: Ranks first academically in her class. … She enjoys volunteering with Passion Impact, practicing her trumpet (which she plays in jazz ensemble), listening to music and reading fictional novels. … Her favorite place in city? “Just thinking of Ed Benedict Park brings a smile to my face and reminds me of the fun I had there with my best friends.”

Meanwhile, Cleveland High named junior Zinnia Sirokman as its Rose Festival Court princess.

About Zinnia: Has thought about special education/childhood development (teacher or daycare operator?) or culinary school (pastry chef?) as her post-high school schooling. … She’s been doing wrestling and track and field (shot put), and also joined Cleveland’s cheer team. … “I have always loved going down to Portland Saturday Market and getting gyros with my brother and my parents.”

Harefest returns — After being cancelled for the past two years, the Harefest tribute band festival returns for its 10th year at the Clackamas County Fairgrounds in Canby, July 8-9.

The lineup features tribute bands of Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses, Heart, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Blondie, Styx, Beastie Boys, Def Leppard, Janice Joplin, Foreigner, Scorpions, Metallica, Duran Duran, Tom Petty, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Journey and Fleetwood Mac.

For more: http://www.j-fell.com.

Shen Yun — Ancient China and cultural heritage come to life through the performance of Shen Yun, March 16-20 at Keller Auditorium.

Masks are “encouraged” to be worn but not required, and “we will not be screening for COVID-19 vaccination proof or negative test results,” Portland’5 Centers for the Arts says on the event entry on its website.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15

Jefferson princess — Jayilee Sloan, a senior, has been named Jefferson High’s Rose Festival Court princess.

About Jayliee: Wants to go to college and be a pediatric nurse. … “I like to express myself through creative art, fashion, photography, interior design and thrift shopping.” … Her favorite place in Portland is the Portland Art Museum, because it sparks her interest in creative arts and she looks forward to new exhibits.

MONDAY, MARCH 14

St. Patrick’s Day — Some events will be in-person, others still virtual as revelers celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17.

• There’ll be bagpipers, Irish dancers, corned beef and cabbage, Guinness, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey and more at Paddy’s, 65 S.W. Yamhill St., which helps raise funds for Children’s Cancer Association.

• Kells Irish Festival takes place at Kells Irish Pub, 112 S.W. Second Ave., featuring the familiar tent, and at Kells Brewery, 210 N.W. 21st Ave. At Kells Irish Pub, Cul an Ti performs at noon, followed by Kells Irish Pipers, Sean Daly & The Shams and more.

• McMenamins has three days of activities (March 17-19) planned at various pubs and properties, including Edgefield in Troutdale, Grand Lodge in Forest Grove and Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.

• The Nines hotel, 525 S.W. Morrison St., offers its Cheers for Beers package, which includes a brewery bike tour.

• The All-Ireland Cultural Society puts on another virtual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

See http://www.oregonirishsociety.org for complete details.

Mizee named — Roosevelt has named Maria Mizee, a senior, as its Rose Festival Court princess.

About Maria: Wants to attend college and study art or science. … “During my spare time, I’m an athlete,” playing volleyball and basketball and competing in track and field. … Enjoys the holiday season in Portland with “all of the beautiful lights.”

Whale Watching Week — The annual spring Whale Watching Week takes place March 21-25, as thousands of gray whales make their way back to Alaska. Watch from Oregon Coast parks and via YouTube livestream. Hosted by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, the weeklong admiration of whales will not include volunteers helping watchers, and the Whale Watch Center in Depoe Bay will be closed.

Livestreams are scheduled daily, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Big collaboration — BodyVox Dance and Chamber Music Northwest present “Nineteen*Twenty,” featuring BodyVox dancers and the chamber’s Akropolis Reed Quartet at the new Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton, Thursday-Saturday, March 17-19.

It’s an exploration deep into the heart and soul of the 1920s, a time of exploding music, art and dance.

The project was two years in the making.

For more: http://www.cmnw.org, http://www.bodyvox.com.

Local ‘AGT’ contestant— A contestant with Oregon ties on “America’s Got Talent: Extreme” came up short of the finals, as announced on Monday on KGW (8).

David “The Bullet” Smith, a 44-year-old human cannonball who lists Salem as his hometown, showed off his talent in the first episode.

“The scariest human cannonball shot I’ve ever done,” he said during the Feb. 23 broadcast. He got shot out of a steep-angled cannon and through a ring of fire (90 feet high). He landed safely on the net on the other side.

All three judges — Simon Cowell, Nikki Bella and Travis Pastrana — gave him a “yes” vote to advance Smith, but public voters didn’t put him through to the finals.

Said Cowell: “Everything about that was what we were hoping for, for this show. You have my absolute respect.”